Running to remember: Falmouth man to run marathon in daughter’s memory

Thursday

Mar 25, 2010 at 12:01 AMMar 25, 2010 at 5:07 PM

Three years ago, Michael and Ginny Irving suffered every parent’s worst nightmare when they lost their 6-month-old daughter Lillian Rose to a heart condition. Michael Irving will pay tribute to both Lillian’s memory and the care she received at Children’s Hospital in Boston by running the 114th Boston Marathon on April 19 as part of the Children’s Miles for Miracles Team.

Sarah Murphy

Three years ago, Michael and Ginny Irving suffered every parent’s worst nightmare when they lost their 6-month-old daughter Lillian Rose to a heart condition. Michael Irving will pay tribute to both Lillian’s memory and the care she received at Children’s Hospital in Boston by running the 114th Boston Marathon on April 19 as part of the Children’s Miles for Miracles Team.

In June of 2007, Lillian was rushed to Children’s Hospital with what first appeared to be symptoms of pneumonia.

"It turned out to be much more serious. Lillian had numerous ventricular septal defects and a malformed aorta," Michael Irving said.

Two weeks later, she died.

The Irvings have not forgotten the kindness and support they received from the Children’s Hospital staff, and, since Lillian’s death, they have looked for ways to support the hospital. This will be Michael Irving’s third marathon but his first time running for Children’s.

"People who work with sick kids are just a different breed. They’re absolutely selfless, always thinking about how they can help others," he said. "They were constantly trying to cheer us up, even in such a dire situation. It’s an experience you never want to go through, but at least we were in the best place we could possibly be."

Lillian was the couple’s second child. Their daughter Hannah is 5 1/2 and they now have another daughter, 11-month-old Samantha.

For the father, the hardest part about losing his little girl is thinking about the "what if’s."

"As a parent, you’re always more overprotective with your firstborn, and you don’t worry as much about everything with the second child. You’re a little more relaxed. So, when something like this happens you can’t help but think, ‘Maybe if we had done things differently, she would still be here.’ That’s what’s really hard for me."

Ginny (Warren) was born and raised in Falmouth and graduated from Falmouth High School in 1992. The couple moved back to Ginny’s hometown in 2005 after living in the Framingham area and then Sandwich. They now reside in East Falmouth. Michael Irving owns a handyman business, Honey Do Services, and is pursuing his master’s degree in special education for K-8. He also works as a substitute teacher at Mullen-Hall School.

Michael Irving has participated in the Falmouth Road Race and other marathons and said there’s a strong bond that exists among those who have lost children to illness.

"You see a lot of people who run for different causes," he said. "It’s comforting because we can all relate to what the other people have gone through."

Michael Irving was required to raise $750 in order to be eligible for the Miles for Miracles Team and has already raised over $1,800. His goal is to raise at least $2,500.

"People have really responded," he said. "I’ve gotten a lot of support from family, friends, neighbors, and some of my co-workers at Mullen-Hall."

During the marathon, Michael Irving’s thoughts will be with Lillian.

"It will feel good to focus on her and know I’m helping the people who took care of her."

Falmouth Bulletin

How to help

For more information or to donate online, visit childrenshospital.org/bostonmarathon. Go to "sponsor a runner" and type "Michael Irving."

Donations made out to Children’s Hospital Boston can also be mailed to: Michael Irving, PO Box 1002, East Falmouth, MA. 02536

Falmouth Track Club

For more information about Falmouth Track Club, visit falmouthtrackclub.org.